The new Abarth model expands the Fiat 500 lineup from a duo to a trio. The Abarth joins the coupe and cabrio models, and brings with it a distinctive sport focus.

It also brings a name — Abarth — with a long history (see sidebar on page two). That's a racing history, a point drilled home by several, model-specific design cues on the 500 Abarth. Up front, the revamped fascia juts forward above a trio of wide, air intakes. The side shot shows flared fender arches, which nicely frame the available, 17-inch rims. The wheels themselves further accent the bright red brake calipers. A lift gate-mounted spoiler stretches the roofline rearward, while below, the restyled rear fascia houses a set of classic, chrome-plated Abarth twin exhaust tips. And just about everywhere you look on the body, you find the Abarth shield. My test car was wrapped in a suitably sporty coat of red paint, accented by optional, white mirror caps and a white, stutter stripe along side.

If you missed these visuals, the Abarth's audio cues are apparent the moment you start it up. Hit the button and the car wakes with a distinctive blat — courtesy of the tuned exhaust system. The prominent at-idle tone seems to divide people into two camps. One hears the call of a car that wants to play. The other thinks the car's muffler is shot. The 500 Abarth finds its voice at speed, settling into a snarly soundtrack that will please enthusiasts and convince the rest that they should be looking at the other, conventionally muffled, 500 models.

What the exhaust is trumpeting is the 1.4 liter MultiAir engine. The turbocharged four cylinder makes 160 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm and 170 lb. ft. of torque at 2,500 rpm.

It's offered solely with a five-speed manual transmission; hardly a hardship to its target market of enthusiasts, and a pretty nice gearbox. A Hill Start Assist feature holds the car in place for a few seconds when you release the brake, so you can engage the clutch without rollback.

The Abarth is fitted with a Powertrain Control Module (PCM). In normal mode, engine torque in first and second gear is limited, in the interest of maximizing mileage and minimizing emissions.

However, pressing a dash-top button engages the Sport mode, which gives the driver access to full power, with remapped throttle response and a more responsive steering feel. The PCM's boost is so noticeable that I'm sure engaging it will soon become second nature for Abarth buyers. Hit the start button, hit the Sport button, drive off. A turbo boost gauge is programmed to flash when you approach the engine's redline. This corner-of-the-eye cue prompts the driver to grab another gear when their gaze may be focused elsewhere, like on an approaching turn, or pylons that loom ahead.

The engine likes to rev, though there's enough bottom end to start from a stop without an invitation. The Abarth tips the scales at just 2,512 lb., and once engaged, the four can pull to 60 mph in about 7 seconds. The transmission is geared to support the engine's peaky powerband. Mileage is rated at 28 city and 34 highway; nice numbers, considering the car's fun factor.

Despite a nose-heavy weight balance (64%/36% f/r), the car's lowered ride height, beefed-up front and rear suspension, stout brakes and meatier tires all conspire to make the 500 Abarth agile and fun to drive. This is one of those cars where, if you don't have access to a track day at a road course or an autocross, you're going to feel like you're missing out.

Inside, the special model status is announced by a fine steering wheel: small and grippy, fat and flat-bottomed, capped with an Abarth shield. The dash display is augmented by the turbo boost gauge, and a speedometer stretched to an optimistic, 160 mph. The shifter knob and IP brow are leather wrapped, with red accent stitching. Aluminum pedal covers add a racing look at foot level, and the available, leather, high-backed bucket seats ($1,000) are thickly bolstered to hold you in place, with pass-throughs to accommodate a competition harness.

The rest of the interior mirrors the other 500 models, with a clean and stylish dash, sandwiching a center section painted the same color as the car's exterior. HVAC and sound system controls are nicely arrayed on the center stack. A Bose premium sound system is standard, with six speakers and a subwoofer. Most anyone will fit up front. However, tall front passengers will absorb the rear seat leg room. The car's wide c-pillars impinge on 3/4 rear visibility. Convex outside mirror inserts help fill in the gaps.

Cargo capacity ranges from 9.5-26.8 cubic feet, depending on how you configure the back seats. Highlights from the option sheet include a TomTom navigation system, hand's-free communication technology and a large, 4.3-inch touchscreen.

With the addition of the Abarth model, Fiat's showroom options now range from cute to competition-oriented. The balance enhances the 500's appeal to guy buyers. It also boosts the 500's stock as an interesting alternative to the MINI Cooper, in the sports side of the seriously small car segment.

A regular contributor to the Times Union for the past 20 years, Dan Lyons is the award-winning author of six books, and photographer of 135 calendars. Read Dan's recent reviews on line anytime, at www.TimesUnion.com.